MLB Player News

Williams (4-5) gave up six runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out one through five innings to take the loss against the Brewers on Wednesday.

Williams was hit hard early and often, allowing runs in four of the five frames he pitched. After allowing 15 home runs in 31 starts in 2018, Williams has already surrendered 15 long balls in 2019. Williams has a 5.06 ERA and 78 strikeouts through 17 starts this season. Williams will make his next start Monday against the Angels in Anaheim.

Lucchesi surrendered two runs on five hits and one walk over 5.1 innings during Wednesday's loss to the Mariners. He had eight strikeouts and did not factor in the decision.

Lucchesi was unable to secure a quality start, as he was lifted after retiring the first batter of the sixth inning with his pitch count at 102. The 26-year-old has a 4.19 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 119:39 K:BB over 122.1 innings and lines up to face the Rays on Monday.

Wacha will be skipped in his next turn through the rotation as Miles Mikolas will start Sunday against the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wacha lined up to start Sunday but the Cardinals will instead take advantage of Thursday's scheduled off day and bump up the rest of the rotation one game. The 28-year-old figures to be available out of the bullpen this weekend since the team won't require a fifth starter for at least another week. Wacha has struggled for most of the season with a 5.54 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 72:42 K:BB in 89.1 innings.

Mikolas will make his next start Sunday against the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The Cardinals have a scheduled off day Thursday, allowing them to skip Michael Wacha in the rotation and have Mikolas pitch Sunday on normal rest. The 31-year-old has come out of the All-Star break pitching well with a 2.18 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB in five starts.

May didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Cardinals, giving up one run on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings while striking out seven.

The rookie got the hook after throwing 83 pitches (61 strikes), leaving him one out shy of his first quality start for the second straight outing. With Ross Stripling (biceps) not yet ready to return to action, May will get at least one more big-league start Aug. 14 in Miami.

Martinez (2-2) took the loss Wednesday as the Cardinals fell 2-1 to the Dodgers, striking out one and giving up one run on two hits in the ninth inning -- including a walkoff single by Russell Martin.

The right-hander entered the game in the ninth inning with a runner on first base and one out trying to protect a 1-0 lead, and instead Martinez blew his third save in 14 chances. He now has a 6.30 ERA in 10 innings to begin the second half, but the blown save was his first since June 19 and there's been little indication his job security as closer is on shaky ground.

Flaherty didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Dodgers, giving up four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings while striking out 10.

The right-hander was brilliant, tying his season high in strikeouts while extending his scoreless streak to 16 innings, and Flaherty exited the game in line for his sixth win of the year before Carlos Martinez ruined the combined shutout bid in the ninth inning. Flaherty will carry a 3.72 ERA and 150:40 K:BB through 128.1 innings into his next outing Aug. 14 in Kansas City.

Fried (13-4) struck out 10 while allowing three runs on six hits and a walk across 5.1 innings while earning a victory against the Twins on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old hasn't been as consistent since the middle of June, and as a result, his ERA still sits above 4.00. However, Fried is on a four-game winning streak and has 25 strikeouts in his last 21.2 innings. Wins and strikeouts have been Fried's best categories this season. He has 13 victories, a 4.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 122 strikeouts in 120.1 innings across 30 outings, including 22 starts, this season. Fried will make his next start Tuesday at home against the Mets.

Matz (7-7) allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and seven strikeouts across 6.2 innings to earn a victory against the Marlins on Wednesday.

Other than the rough start his last time on the mound, Matz has pitched very well since the beginning of July. In five outings since the All-Star break, Matz is 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA. He improved back to the .500 mark with his win Wednesday, and Matz owns a 4.49 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 104 strikeouts in 110.1 innings this season. He will make his next start Wednesday at the Braves.

Quintana (10-7) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits over seven innings while striking out seven in a 10-1 rout of the A's.

The southpaw was in control from the get-go, retiring the first nine batters he faced before a Marcus Semien double to lead off the fourth inning eventually led to Oakland's only run of the game. Quintana threw 60 of 94 pitches for strikes in his 12th quality start of the season, and he'll take a 4.23 ERA and 110:35 K:BB through 129.2 innings into his next outing Tuesday in Philadelphia.